Internationally acclaimed ‘80s-influenced hard rockers SANTA CRUZ have re-signed with M-Theory Audio, who will be releasing the group's upcoming new album, “The Return of the Kings”, this fall. The first single from the record, “Under The Gun”, is available to stream now on all digital music platforms.
The new 2022 lineup of SANTA CRUZ – which sees Finnish frontman/guitarist and founding member Archie Cruz now joined by the talented Los Angeles-based trio of guitarist Jerry Jade (BAD GVY), bassist Tommy Bradley (REVELRY GANG), and drummer Randy McDemian (ABRAHADABRA CLOTHING) – will be filming a music video for the song on-location in Joshua Tree, California, and will make their live debut on Wednesday, April 6th at the Whisky A Go-Go in Los Angeles.
“I am stoked to keep working with the Vegas based label M-Theory Audio as I feel like they did a good job with two of our previous releases,” states Archie Cruz. “I am looking forward to completing this next album cycle and Santa Cruz chapter with them.”
The release of “Under The Gun”, the upcoming new album, and impending live performances are just the latest developments in what has already been a busy 2022 for SANTA CRUZ . The band's metallic-fueled cover of One Direction's “Drag Me Down” was recently featured prominently in the hit HBO MAX/DC Universe series “Peacemaker”, and the group also now has new merchandise available through Rebellion Republic at https://rebellionrepublic.com/?s=santa+cruz. The music video for “Under The Gun” will also be revealed in the weeks to come.
SANTA CRUZ first appeared on their native Finnish hard rock scene in 2007. A series of impressive demos and EP's full of catchy hard-rock anthems resulted in the band signing to Spinefarm Records, who released the group's first full-length record, “Screaming For Adrenaline,” in 2013. A series of European festival appearances and live performances alongside acts such as Skid Row, Buckcherry, and Kobra And The Lotus was soon followed by the release of 2015's self-titled follow-up. The group refined their rock 'n roll bonafides and continued to build their following with a workhorse-level of touring, sharing U.S. stages during that time period with Sebastian Bach, I Prevail and Amaranthe.
SANTA CRUZ signed with M-Theory Audio in 2017. The group's new home label subsequently released “Bad Blood Rising” that year, and their 2019's follow-up, “Katharsis”. The band returned to live stages in 2019 with triumphant performances at Aftershock 2019, Louder Than Life 2019, three Finnish music festivals and European support slots to Whitesnake and Bon Jovi, followed by a nationwide U.S. tour supporting Atreyu, Whitechapel, and He Is Legend. SANTA CRUZ frontman Archie Cruz adapted to the challenges of 2020 and 2021 by continuing to work on the music that would become “The Return of the Kings,” and appeared as a contestant on Season 5 of “Survivor Finland.”